Hofstra softball has all the tools

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Despite an inauspicious 0-8 start, Hofstra softball coach Bill Edwards didn’t think the Pride was too far away from a successful February and believes good things are on the horizon for 2012.

“Disappointed is the best way to describe how we started,” said Edwards, who last spring guided Hofstra (40-13) to at least 40 wins for the fourth time in five years. “We haven’t experienced it in a while, but played and hung with all the top teams in the country,” he added. “We haven’t gotten key hits, but hopefully those will come.”

In each of the last 20 seasons under Edwards, the Pride has captured either a regular season or postseason conference championship. It took the regular-season crown in 2011 and led all Division I programs in fielding percentage along the way. 

“At this level you have to compete on every pitch,” he said. “We’re a little snakebit right now, but our chemistry is outstanding and so is the work ethic.”

With the pitching tandem of junior Olivia Galati (29 wins, 348 strikeouts, 1.24 ERA) and senior Erin Wade (11, 109, 2.56) leading the way, Hofstra is considered the team to beat in the Colonial Athletic Association again but Edwards said the talent in the CAA is up across the board. “It’s a tough conference and anyone can beat anyone,” he said. “We’re everyone else’s target. We get everybody’s ‘A’ game.”

When Galati brings her best, opponents are hard-pressed to score. She allowed only 140 hits in more than 242 innings of work a year ago and tossed 17 shutouts. Her fastball and rise ball are usually overpowering. In addition, she led the Pride with a .343 batting average. “She can dominate,” Edwards said.

Wade, who had three shutouts a year ago, is throwing the best Edwards has seen her in the early going. “Erin’s focused and hitting spots and making big pitches,” he said. “She and Olivia split the first eight games and we didn’t relieve either one.”

Losing defensive star Trisha Dreslinski to graduation left a void at shortstop. Sophomore Becca Bigler, who appeared in 14 games last season and batted a solid .293, is the frontrunner to hold down the job. Senior Jess Hirschbuhl (.311, 26 RBIs) returned at second base, and senior Krista Thorn (.273, 19, nine steals) handles the hot corner.

Following the tough start, Edwards looked to move senior Courtney Crews from catcher to first base to make room for promising freshman Erin Trippi behind the plate. Crews, sidelined for most of 2011 due to injury, has come back strong and led the team in hitting (.292) after eight games. Trippi had some “great swings” against topnotch pitching in February, Edwards said, and is expected to see an up-tick in at-bats.

Conference rivals will have a difficult time matching Hofstra’s talent in the outfield. Junior Tessa Ziemba patrols right and is coming off a big season that saw her hit .335 with nine homers, 44 RBIs, and 33 runs. Her 59 hits led the team. In left, junior D.J. Slugh (.338, three homers, 20 RBIs) provides pop, while senior Michelle Lavagnino is a talented slap-hitting lefty. Junior Rachael Senatore sets the offensive tone from the leadoff spot and boasts a dynamite arm in center field.

“If we stay healthy, I’m confident we have the pieces,” Edwards said. “We just have to play relaxed and with confidence.”

After opening with tournaments in North Carolina and Florida, the Pride is home this weekend against Maine and Connecticut. The CAA schedule begins March 24 with a three-game set at Georgia State.